Ornamental grasses are a multi-resourceful plant that can be used in numerous ways within a landscape. Many ornamental grasses in our area are warm season growers and bloom in late summer and early fall. This is the perfect time of year to witness the bright colors of their seedheads. Colors of red, gold, orange, purple, and blue ornamental grass seedheads are striking against the imminent dormancy of most landscapes. Ornamental grasses have become more popular as landscaping returns to a more natural look. These grasses are used in a variety of ways such as adding texture and color to plant beds and used for those “troubled” areas in your landscape.
If you haven’t taken a good look at ornamental grasses, now is the time to do so. You will notice that they come in many different textures which will add that perfect “something” to your landscape. You may notice the fluffiness of Maiden Grass, Pampas Grass and Pink Muhly Grass as their plumes flow back and forth with the breeze. Blue Fescue and Liriope have a spikey texture and are used as a ground cover and edging. Look for the Bottlebrush Grass and Purple Fountain Grass with their bottlebrush-like flowers curving up over other plant material. The variety of textures among ornamental grasses are endless and effective at adding interest to any planting bed.
Ornamental grass seedheads add such vibrant colors to planting beds during the fall and the flowers that follow can be just as outstanding. Imagine your planting bed full of Pink Muhly grass adding a beautiful soft pink color to your landscape. Other ornamental grasses boasting colorful foliage include Little Bluestem, with a lavender-blue stem, Japanese Bottlebrush with its feathery, dark pink, brush-like blooms, Variegated Liriope which will push out grape-like clusters of purple flowers, and Fire Dragon Maiden Grass which changes its green leaves into edgy red and oranges colors. Imagine the fun and excitement you could have using these ornamental grasses in a landscape!
There are not many landscapes that do not have at least one area that can be troublesome. Whether an area holds too much water or holds not enough water, the area has no irrigation or is a full sun area that burns most all the plant material you have tried, you should be able to find an ornamental grass that will thrive.
Wet areas - Muhly grass and Maiden Grass
Salt spray areas - Tufted Hair grass and Pampas grass
Dry areas - Switchgrass and Blue Oat grass
Full sun areas - Pink Muhly grass and Flame Grass
For Screening - Hardy Clumping Bamboo and Zebra Grass
Ornamental grasses add different textures and heights to your landscape, add color, soften areas, add drama, movement, and sound to landscapes. Ornamental grasses do not require a lot of maintenance, do not require pesticides, are effective in soil erosion, and do not pollute waterways. These grasses are very resourceful and provide such an interest to your landscape, we feel once you have tried ornamental grasses, you will never want your property to be without them. Having such low maintenance grasses in your landscape means one very important thing this time of year – you have more time to watch SEC football!!
GOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!
